Local Lawmakers Are Reserving Judgment

WASHINGTON — Phone calls poured into some congressional offices Tuesday by the hundreds.

A few politicians, most notably former Vice President Dan Quayle, called for President Clinton's resignation.

But local lawmakers adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward a scandal that has rocked the nation and continues to threaten Bill Clinton's presidency.

Several legislators were traveling and could not be reached for comment. Those who could, had little to say.

"Until all the facts are before Congress, no judgment should be rendered," said Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., in a prepared statement. "We are a nation that follows the rule of law and holds its citizens accountable."

Another cautious respondent was Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Newport News, whose views could become critical to Clinton's political future. Scott serves on the House Judiciary Committee, where any potential impeachment proceedings against the president would begin.

"He acknowledged his behavior was wrong," Scott said. "At this point, it's up to Ken Starr to show high crimes and misdemeanors," the criteria required for impeachment.

"If he does, we'll consider it." If he doesn't, Scott said, Clinton's behavior amounts to "a private matter between him and his family."

Even if Clinton lied to the public, Scott said, Starr may have difficulty proving perjury. The law requires finding that the disputed information is "material" to the case at hand. The Paula Jones lawsuit, which triggered testimony about Monica Lewinsky, was dismissed, Scott noted.

But Scott declined to speculate about Clinton's fate, adding, "We don't have the evidence yet. Let's see what the evidence shows."

Since first winning office in 1992, Scott has been an articulate and mostly loyal advocate for many of Clinton's domestic policy initiatives, from better child care to education reforms and the expansion of Medicare.

But Scott hesitated Tuesday when asked if Clinton could regain any credibility he may have lost after acknowledging that he lied to the public.

"We have to wait and see," Scott said. "This will be a problem for the president."

Another member of the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla., told the Orlando Sentinel that Clinton's speech Monday night had not put to rest questions about perjury or obstruction of justice.

"This is a very serious constitutional matter," McCollum was quoted as saying. "The president is not going to be impeached on the basis of illicit sexual activity in the White House. It's not about that. It's about whether the president committed the crime of perjury under oath."

Republican lawmakers reported receiving a flood of phone calls from Clinton opponents. Warner's office reported more than 500 calls, which ran seven to one against the president. Rep. Herbert H. Bateman, R-Newport News, was traveling abroad, but his office reported getting 103 calls against Clinton and seven calls supporting the president.

Democrats said they got only a smattering of calls that seemed about equally divided.

David Lerman can be reached at (202) 824-8224 or by email at dlerman@tribune.com